Japan Exchange Program

Last month, a group of 15 Mac.Rob students and 3 teachers travelled to Japan for a three-week exchange program with our sister school, Shinwa Girls High School. From the moment we arrived in Tokyo until the day we returned to Melbourne, every moment was filled with awe at Japan’s unique and wonderful culture. 

In the first week of our trip, our itinerary was packed with activities that offered a variety of insights into Japanese culture, with outings ranging from the fashionable streets of Harajuku in Tokyo, to the breathtaking temples in Kyoto. In Tokyo our students were offered a charming mix of modern experiences such as Tokyo Skytree and  the anime loving district of Akihabara along with traditional attractions such as the beautiful gardens of Meiji Shrine and Asakusa temple. Kyoto then further provided our students with even more beautiful traditional experiences, as we walked up a mountain through hundreds of traditional red gates to get to Fushimiinari shrine and went to Kiyomizu temple, Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Nishiki market. 

Finally the day that we had all been waiting for arrived, and after one week in Japan we travelled from Kyoto to Kobe, where we got to finally see our host sisters again! After a tea ceremony conducted by Shinwa’s alumni during which we were lucky enough to be able to wear beautiful traditional yukatas, we then went to the welcome party held by the Shinwa students where we all ate lots of yummy food!

In the second and third weeks of the exchange, our students attended classes at Shinwa Girls High School, engaging in a range of subjects including maths, biology, English, Japanese literature and music. While we did not attend a large number of classes due to excursions and student free days, every class that our students were able to attend was a valuable and interesting experience, giving us insight into the Japanese education system.

During our two weeks of homestay, we all gained close friendships with our host sisters and families, who were so kind to us throughout the exchange by providing delicious food, experiences and emotional support. Getting to hang out with our host sisters and their friends also allowed us all to experience normal life in Japan, an experience that we are very lucky to have had, and will never forget.

During our homestay, we also had some memorable excursions such as a day trip to Himeji Castle, and an amazing day at Universal Studios Japan. We were also grateful to be able to visit both Takaha Primary school and Shinwa Kindergarten, where we were all able to meet many friendly kids, who made us feel right at home!

Finally the day we were all dreading arrived, when we all had to say our final goodbyes to our host families. The morning was filled with hugs, photos and messages, and many tears were shed (thank you Sawaki Sensei for your tissues). We were all so sad to leave our host families, but we could not be more grateful for their continued support throughout the homestay, and we all hope to stay in touch for years to come! 

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Sawaki Sensei for working so hard to make this exchange possible, and to all the teachers present on the trip for tirelessly supporting us throughout. This trip was truly an unforgettable experience, and our students have returned home with a deeper appreciation for cultural diversity and a newfound curiosity for Japanese language and culture. 

Anna S (11J)